Senior Consultant, Public Affairs

Fraser Health•Surrey, BC

8d•$46 - $67•Hybrid

About The Position

Join Fraser Health’s Public Affairs team, where you will represent one of Canada’s largest and most diverse health authorities. As a Senior Consultant, Public Affairs, you will work closely with colleagues across the organization and with partners to support transparent, effective, and timely communications. You will be a trusted advisor during high‑profile and emerging issues, helping to connect people, perspectives, and information to support decision‑making and understanding of Fraser Health’s role in the health system. In this role, you will contribute to a team culture that values collaboration and creative thinking to solve problems, while also bringing the confidence and experience to work independently. You will build strong internal relationships to create pathways to information, and work constructively with partners to generate alignment and shared understanding. Build on your education and career experience as you: Collaborate with internal teams and partners to develop strategic communications plans, from goal‑setting through to implementation and evaluation. Develop media action plans, including preparing spokespeople, crafting key messages and news releases, and evaluating media outcomes. Build and sustain trusted relationships with reporters, acting as one of a team of organizational spokespeople. Manage complex and time‑sensitive issues with an appreciation for diverse partner perspectives. Support event coordination in close collaboration with government and community partners.

Requirements

University degree in Communications, Public Affairs and/or related discipline, plus five (5) to seven (7) years' recently related media/public relations experience within a large complex work environment such as a healthcare organization, or an equivalent combination of education, training, experience.
Demonstrates the leadership practices of the Fraser Health Leadership Framework of Clear, Caring and Courageous and creates the conditions for people to succeed.
Demonstrated skill and ability in journalistic business writing and the creation of compelling articles.
Demonstrated ability to plan and write a broad range of exceptional copy in a variety of media.
Demonstrated ability to manage projects on budget and on a deadline.
Ability to supervise.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively as a high performance team.
Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively as an internal media relations consultant.
Ability to build strategic alliances with both internal and external stakeholders including representatives of the media.
Demonstrated ability to problem-solve and resolve conflicts.
Demonstrated adherence to ethical, professional and respectful behaviour.
Thorough knowledge and understanding of the mastery of communication concepts, best practices and technical skills required for effective communication with media, patients, families and others involved in and/or receiving health care and services.
Demonstrated experience in working with sensitive and confidential materials.
Demonstrated skill and proficiency in electronic communication technology and web-based the use of personal computers, including related word processing, PageMaker and other desktop publishing and computer graphics software.
Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Responsibilities

Plans and delivers strategic and tactical media relations and communication activities to build, maintain and enhance public awareness and understanding of FH programs, services and initiatives; facilitates understanding of important issues and opportunities; promotes a positive corporate image.
Determines appropriate media-relations planning/management processes for publicly accessible media, advertising and other means of communicating with the public; sets and develops objectives and appropriate plans of action; completes assignments through review and use of confidential materials; demonstrates a high level of judgement, independent thinking and initiative when contacting/communicating with the media; exercises discretion when in possession of confidential information which may impact the employment lives of staff such as an organization and/or systems redesign, redevelopment or decommission of existing facilities and/or labour adjustments.
Provides media-relations consultation to FH Executives, Board Members, Directors, Managers and other internal stakeholders to conducts appropriate supporting research and analysis; assesses media reports and develops, implements and evaluates media communication strategies.
Develops and delivers media communications and/or promotional plans for authority-wide or local programs, including health promotion/prevention and awareness; carries these plans forward from goal setting through to creative solution including the implementation and evaluation stages; considers factors such as audience characteristics, corporate vision and strategy, available budget/resources and sensitive, confidential issues.
Plans and coordinates media publicity for regional and authority-wide activities, events and programs to promote a positive corporate image and organizational strategies; develops media action plans including setting objectives, selecting, coordinating and briefing appropriate FH spokespeople for interview opportunities; maintains regular contact with key media leaders; prepares key messages and news releases; determines appropriate media outlets and evaluates results.
Participates in the development, implementation and evaluation of departmental goals, guidelines, objectives, policies and procedures; collaborates with the Communications team in the fulfilment of strategic communication goals; liaises with counterparts at other health care agencies, health authorities, various levels of government and partner agencies to ensure consistent messaging and common approaches; develops and translates guidelines strategies and plan developed by FH in implementing media relations strategies and practice.
Provides leadership to the Communications team through coaching, guiding and modeling key behaviours/strategies encouraging dialogue; advises and facilitates resolution to work issues related to media relations in FH.
Plays an assigned media relations role to ensure effective, timely messaging to the public and media during times of potential public health crises, natural disasters and other emergencies, as defined by FH's emergency management plan.
Carries a media pager (shared with members of the public affairs team) as assigned; responds promptly to media inquires and delivers appropriate service to media callers.